Gardening gadgets for the digital generation

Want to do more around the garden but find it a bit of a chore? Maybe you’re a novice and unsure on where to start? Perhaps you’ve already got green fingers and want to take gardening to the next level?

Say hello to technology.

If you want to bridge the gap between earth and electronics, here are some gardening gadgets to help make nature a little bit more manageable.

1. Gadgets that help you plan

Gardening is always easier with a little bit of planning. Understanding how your plot and plants collaborate will not only help create a fertile garden, but one that’s enjoyable to work in.

But where to begin? Well, like everything else these days, just download an app. With so many currently on the market, you’ll easily find a gardening app to match your level of ambition.
So whether you’re simply after some advice and inspiration, an easier way to identify weeds and specific plants, or even guidance on how to grow your own vegetables, you’ll soon have a wealth of knowledge available on your smartphone or tablet within minutes.

2. Gadgets that do the job for you

So, the overgrown lawn you’ve been putting off mowing for weeks now looks more like a jungle. Yet pushing a battery-assisted, petrol or electronic lawnmower around for hours isn’t exactly appealing.

The solution? Buy a robotic mower.

Husqvarna has a great selection of products that mow the lawn for you, at any scheduled time and without the need for supervision. The built-in functions mean they can adjust according to changes in the weather, the growth speed of the lawn and whether the grass is higher in a specific area. It will even find its way back to the charging station once finished, making this gardening lark pretty effortless.

3. Gadgets that lend a helping hand

For some gardeners, it’s the gentler jobs that hurt the most. Simple pruning tasks can leave hands stiff and painful, and can increase the risk of arthritis.

That’s where multi-functional, rechargeable handheld tools come in handy. Bosch has a good range of cordless gadgets that perform well using less force, taking the pressure off as you add those finishing touches to your shrubs.

If your landscape trimming expands to cutting limbs off trees, don’t put yourself at risk by balancing on a rickety old ladder. Cordless pole saws are basically miniature chain saws on an extendable pole, and are a great help with those hard-to-reach bits.

Of course, there’s no need to be too ambitious. Only use these tools if you’re confident in operating them and always leave the larger branches and unwanted trees to professional tree surgeons.

4. Gadgets that help monitor progress

It’s good to let nature do its thing&mldr; but sometimes a little nudge can work wonders.

Mechanical watering systems and electrical pollinators can certainly help your garden grow, but it’s being able to monitor progress that will help keep it healthy.
wifi plant sensors and solar powered systems are designed to track the wellbeing of your favourite plants; observing soil moisture, temperature and light intensity before sending you notification updates with precise care advice.

If you’re more into visuals, you could always keep a close eye on development with a time-lapse camera that blends in nicely with your garden’s surroundings.

5. Gadgets to help keep pests away

It would be a shame for all that, ahem, hard work to be undone by vermin. But unfortunately, pests that consume vegetation are a common problem for gardeners who can’t keep guard on a daily basis.

When it comes to dealing with the larger ones, there’s no need to opt for chemical control. Try an electronic garden defence instead. Go online to order an electronic owl - a modern update to a scarecrow, which uses battery-powered movements and hooting sounds once sensors are triggered by nearby creatures. Some also come with a slightly disturbing 360-degree head turn.

Admittedly, these are an acquired taste. So if you’re not quite convinced, perhaps the next step is to think bigger and a little further into the future.

The Garden Gnome Drone is a prototype that currently features sensors to detect intrusion. These trigger the drone to take-off from its charging station and complete a pre-planned flight path around the garden before returning, scaring off any unwanted animals that shouldn’t be there. The model is not available to purchase yet so, in the meantime, the original consumer drone (to which the project is based on) should give you an idea of its fearsomeness.

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